The God-man

Next Door Savior by Max Lucado

The tag line on the cover of this book pretty much sums it up: “Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust.”

Max Lucado’s Next Door Savior is an eye-opening, heart-softening portrait of the God-man. The one who wept when his friend died, then brought him back to life. The one who had more than a few bad apples in his family tree, but was the Son of God. The one who was too tired to stay awake after a long day, but with one word calmed a raging sea.

Max shows how Jesus was and is a Savior with firsthand knowledge of our needs and cares. He lived a common life, a life like you and me. He worked as a carpenter, had siblings to deal with and neighbors who gossiped. His disciples were often like a bunch of backstabbing office workers, pointing fingers at the other guy whenever something went wrong. Jesus was there in the midst of it all. He didn’t run from hardship or live up in a big palace like the King he truly was and is. He didn’t set himself apart as a holy man when in fact he was, but cared for the poor and needy, fed the hungry, and befriended outcasts. He stopped to heal lepers when no one else would even look at them. He went fishing, paid taxes, attended dinner parties, went hungry, was thirsty, tired, angry, and at times filled with grief. He lived as we do…and because of that he understands our sorrow, joy, depression, anxiety, struggles with family and friends, or whatever we might be going through.

Max Lucado has once again touched upon the heart of things. Jesus was the man who did God things. The kind of Savior we need. Near enough to touch. Strong enough to trust. A next door kind of Savior. At first glance this book seems to be an easy read, but look deeper. Inside these pages is much to stir the soul and provoke the thoughts with wonder as you set your eyes upon the Christ and see Him for who he truly is – the great I AM and a friend to sinners.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

Barbara